Zoe Saldaña's chic occasion nails prove the power of timeless minimalist styles

Zoe Saldaña just paired an elegant neutral with this season's most popular - but subtle - nail shape...

Zoe Saldana is pictured with long, wavy brunette hair whilst attending The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City/ in a pastel pink template
(Image credit: Getty Images/Marleen Moise)

Proving that you can never go wrong with a vetted classic, Zoe Saldaña's nails offer the sort of elevated elegance that never goes out of style - and naturally, we're recreating them as a matter of urgency...

While vibrant pastels and modern iterations of French tip nails (like pink French tips, to name just one) have been topping the 2024 nail trends lately, some classic manicures never seem to budge from the list of favourites, no matter the year or season. Neutral nails certainly fall into this category and when paired with a neat and understated 'squoval' shape, they're unbeatable for a sophisticated look - a point proven by Zoe Saldaña.

The actor stepped onto the Met Gala 2024 red carpet (although it was technically cream this year) in a gorgeous beige, half-sheer gown paired with a nail look we simply can't shake...

Why Zoe Saldaña's nails are our new go-to for both occasion and everyday

If you're a lover of minimalistic manicures, Saldaña has offered up another reference to add to your collection at the Met Gala on May 6th, as she debuted short, squoval nails, painted in a milky cream shade - akin to trendy 'Bubble Bath nails.'

Two side by side images of Zoe Saldaña, wearing a beige Chloe dress and a cream manicure whilst arriving for the 2024 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024, in New York. The Gala raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The Gala's 2024 theme is "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion."

(Image credit: Getty Images: (L to R) Angela Weiss / AFP | Dia Dipasupil)

The creamy manicure perfectly complimented the star's delicate Chloe gown, managing to both elevate and blend in alongside the rest of her attire - proving that simplicity is often the best policy when trying to achieve a chic and expensive-looking finish.

As mentioned, Saldaña opted for a short, squoval-style nail shape, which afforded a very polished finish and the best part is, it's such an easy manicure to master and recreate at home...

How to recreate Zoe Saldaña's occasion nails

This subtle nail look is perfect for both every day and for an occasion (a wedding, for instance) because it's versatile and clean - plus this creamy hue can be adapted to any nail shape, including ever-elegant almond nails.

To achieve a similar polished finish, file your nails to your desired length and style (we'd recommend rounded and short, like Saldaña's) and be sure to maintain your cuticle. Then, apply a base coat before following up with two to three coats of your milky cream, white or pink. A good trick to achieve more of a sheer finish is to mix your chosen colour with a clear polish.

To finish, apply a clear glossy top coat and once dry, add a dot of cuticle oil to the base of each nail.

Naomi Jamieson
Digital Beauty Writer

Naomi is a Digital Beauty Writer from woman&home, where she covers everything from skincare to fragrance but specialises, particularly, in makeup and nail trends. Through her work, Naomi gets to share her trend expertise and share her own shopping recommendations and product reviews. Previously, she worked as a Lifestyle News Writer for My Imperfect Life magazine, where she used her savvy for TikTok to bring readers the latest beauty buzzwords, fashion movements and must-have products. 

Before that, Naomi split her time between both GoodTo and My Imperfect Life, whilst training for her Gold Standard diploma in Journalism with the NCTJ, for which she earned a Distinction. Interestingly though, Naomi actually has a background in design, having studied illustration at Plymouth University but leapt into the media world in 2020, after always having a passion for writing. Now, when she isn’t reporting on the best perfumes and latest beauty releases, you can find her drinking copious cups of coffee, drawing and probably online shopping...